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    The Heirloom Pantry » Recipes » Sweets

    Vegan Matcha Ice Cream (Nice Cream)

    Published: Jan 24, 2022 · Modified: Mar 12, 2024 by Kathleen Higashiyama · The following content may contain paid links. When you click and shop the links, we receive a commission.

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    Healthy Vegan Matcha Nice Cream Pinterest - The Heirloom Pantry

    Vegan Matcha Ice Cream is a creamy banana-based frozen treat with bright matcha green tea flavoring. This vegan matcha nicecream is healthy, delicious, and easy to make. Just freeze the bananas, blend the ingredients, and enjoy!

    Vegan matcha banana ice cream in a small ramekin with strawberries and coconut flakes as garnish.

    We enjoy nice cream throughout the summer and occasionally during the winter when the craving strikes. In this recipe, we use traditional banana nice cream and add one of our favorite Japanese ingredients: matcha green tea. The matcha adds a sweet earthiness to the banana base that creates a unique and exciting flavor.

    This vegan matcha nicecream recipe is incredibly easy to make whenever you're craving something sweet! It only calls for 4 ingredients, a few minutes of prep, and a blender. Make a batch to enjoy immediately or freeze ahead for a future treat.

    Jump to:
    • About this Matcha Nice Cream
    • Leftover Bananas? No Problem
    • What is Matcha?
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • Instructions for Matcha Nicecream
    • Recipes FAQs
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top tips
    • Related Recipes
    • Did You Like This Recipe?
    • 📖 Recipe

    About this Matcha Nice Cream

    • Taste - Vegan matcha ice cream is sweet with a bright, earthy green tea flavor.
    • Texture - This frozen dessert is creamy and smooth.
    • Effort - This dessert takes minimal effort! All you need is a blender and 4 ingredients.
    • Time - Freeze the bananas for at least 2 hours and take a few minutes of prep to make the actual frozen treat.

    Leftover Bananas? No Problem

    Sometimes we buy more bananas than we can eat. Instead of throwing the bananas in the compost, we use them to make tasty treats like chocolate chip banana bread or nice cream. Lately, we have been making this nice cream recipe because we love how healthy and easy it is. This nice cream is creamy and delicious like regular ice cream but without the added sugar and dairy.

    What is Matcha?

    Matcha green tea is made by taking young tea leaves and grinding them into a green powder. Since it is 100% green tea leaves, it is much more concentrated than regular green tea and as a result has a much stronger green tea flavor. It is traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies.

    Ceremonial grade matcha is subtle flavor and intended to be consumed after being whisked with hot water. On the other hand, culinary grade matcha is stronger and more bitter, and is designed to be added to baked goods, lattes, and ice cream.

    For this recipe, we recommend culinary grade matcha because it's less expensive and has a delicious matcha flavor.

    Ingredients

    Sliced frozen bananas, matcha powder, honey, oat milk for nicecream.
    • Bananas - The bananas should be very ripe and beginning to turn brown. The riper the bananas, the sweeter the Nice Cream will be because of the natural sugar produced in ripe bananas.
    • Matcha Powder - Matcha is green tea leaves with a distinct earthy, sweet flavor. It comes in a variety of grades for cooking and drinking.
    • Dairy-Free Milk - Use a milk of your choice to help smooth the ingredients in the blender. Almond, soy, oat, or coconut milk are great options.
    • Honey or agave - Adds a floral and sweet accent to the ice cream.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Variations

    • Chocolate matcha nice cream - If you want to add chocolate to the recipe, add semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips for extra chocolate flavor. You can also add a drizzle of chocolate sauce or fudge for a decadent chocolate twist.
    • Skillet cookie - Enjoy this matcha tea nice cream recipe with a warm chocolate chip skillet cookie.
    • Pistachio - Top the ice cream with roasted pistachios for a nice crunch.
    • Vanilla Extract - Add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract to enhance the sweetness of the nice cream and add vanilla flavor.
    • Kid-friendly - Add toppings like fudge, sprinkles, whipped cream, etc. to make this recipe kid friendly.
    • Healthy Toppings - Add healthy toppings like sliced strawberries or coconut flakes.

    Instructions for Matcha Nicecream

    Sliced frozen bananas, matcha green tea powder, honey, and oat milk in a Vitamin blender carafe.
    • Prepare bananas - Peel and slice ripe bananas into ½-inch pieces. Place the banana slices on a baking sheet or plate and freeze for at least 2 hours.
    • Blend the ingredients - Add the frozen bananas to the blender carafe. Add matcha powder, honey, and 2 tablespoons of dairy-free milk. Blend the ingredients on high for 1-2 minutes. Scrape the sides of the blender to incorporate all of the ingredients. If the bananas get stuck in the blender add more dairy-free milk one tablespoon at a time.
    Blended matcha ice cream ingredients.
    • Serve or store - Once the mixture is blended and smooth, the mixture will be thick and creamy. Eat immediately or put in an air tight container and store in the freezer.

    Pro tip - Cut the bananas into half inch chunks (or even slightly smaller) so they are easy to blend and don't get stuck. Use a spoon or silicone baking spatula to scrape the sides to incorporate all of the banana chunks.

    Recipes FAQs

    What matcha powder should I use for this recipe?

    You can use any grade of matcha for this ice cream, but culinary is the most economical and offers a rich matcha flavor. 

    Is vegan matcha ice cream caffeinated?

    Yes, matcha ice cream does contain some caffeine because matcha naturally contains caffeine. This recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of matcha powder, which contains approximately 64 milligrams of caffeine, divided by 4 servings. 

    Where can I buy matcha powder?

    You can buy matcha at Japanese markets, like Mitsuwa or Nijiya, some common chain grocery stores, and online retailers, including Matcha Bloom (use code KAT for 10% off).

    Overhead shot of scoops of vegan matcha nicecream in Japanese bowls.

    Equipment

    You don't need an ice cream maker to make this healthy gluten free ice cream, you just need a food processor or blender. Our Vitamix is our tried true blender and we highly recommend this blender if you want to upgrade! It is an incredibly powerful machine and blends nice cream, smoothies, soups, and sauces effortlessly.

    In order to make this soft serve matcha nicecream recipe, you will also need a measuring spoons, knife, and cutting board.

    Storage

    Store this homemade matcha tea nice cream in an air-tight container and freeze for up to 3 months. When you want to enjoy the ice cream again, let it soften for a few minutes before serving.

    Top tips

    • If you want thicker matcha nicecream, put it in the freezer immediately after you finish blending it and wait 30 minutes. This will make the nice cream extra thick.
    • If your blender has trouble and the bananas get stuck, add more dairy-free milk one tablespoon at a time.
    • To enjoy immediately, use chilled dairy-free milk. This will help keep the bananas frozen when blended.

    Related Recipes

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      Gluten-Free Matcha Granola
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      Matcha Vanilla Bean Glaze
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      Matcha Cinnamon Streusel Muffins
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      Matcha White Chocolate Covered Strawberries

    Did You Like This Recipe?

    Love this vegan ice cream recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below & leave a comment below. Thanks!

    Sign up for THP's newsletter and keep in touch on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube. If you make this recipe, tag #theheirloompantry so we can see your creation!

    📖 Recipe

    Vegan matcha banana ice cream in a small ramekin with strawberries and coconut flakes as garnish.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 5 votes

    Vegan Matcha Ice Cream (Nice Cream)

    Vegan Matcha Ice Cream is a creamy banana-based frozen treat with bright matcha green tea flavoring. This frozen vegan dessert is healthy, delicious, and easy to make. Just freeze the bananas, blend the ingredients, and enjoy!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Freeze time2 hours hrs
    Total Time2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
    Course: Desserts, Snack, Sweets
    Cuisine: American, Japanese
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 115kcal
    Author: Kathleen Higashiyama

    Equipment

    • 1 Food processor
    • 1 blender
    • 1 vitamix
    • 1 Measuring spoons
    • 1 knife
    • 1 cutting board

    Ingredients 

    • 1 teaspoon Matcha powder
    • 2 teaspoon Honey or agave
    • 4 Ripe bananas sliced into ½-inch pieces and frozen
    • 2-4 tablespoon Non-dairy milk chilled
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Peel and slice ripe bananas into ½-inch pieces. Place the banana slices on a baking sheet or plate and freeze for at least 2 hours.
      4 Ripe bananas
    • Once the bananas are frozen, put them in a blender carafe. Add matcha powder, honey, and 2 tablespoons of dairy-free milk. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until smooth and scrape the sides of the blender so all of the ingredients are incorporated. If the bananas get stuck in the blender add more dairy-free milk one tablespoon at a time.
      1 teaspoon Matcha powder, 2 teaspoon Honey, 2-4 tablespoon Non-dairy milk
    • Once the mixture is blended and smooth, the mixture will be thick and creamy. Eat immediately or put in an air tight container and store in the freezer.

    Notes

    Storage
    • Store leftover ice cream in an air-tight container in the freezer for up to 1 week. When you want to enjoy the ice cream again, let it soften for a few minutes before serving.
    Top Tips
    • For a thicker matcha nicecream, put it in the freezer immediately after you finish blending it and wait 30 minutes. This will make the nice cream extra thick.
    • If the bananas get stuck in your blender, add more dairy-free milk one tablespoon at a time.
    • To enjoy immediately, use chilled dairy-free milk. This will help keep the bananas frozen when blended.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 429mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theheirloompantry or tag #theheirloompantry!

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    About the Author

    Kat Higashiyama and Alec Totto are recipe developers, food photographers, and the authors behind The Heirloom Pantry. Since 2017, they have shared recipes inspired by their Japanese and Italian heritage and California and Hawaii roots. They reside in San Jose with their two dogs, Peeps and Paisley. Read More…

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    Alec and Kat with Paisley and Peeps on the beach

    We're Kat and Alec, the culinary duo behind The Heirloom Pantry, where family recipes from our Italian and Japanese heritage meet fresh California ingredients and Hawaiian sunshine. Our chef-tested dishes help you conquer weeknights and wow guests with effortless entertaining. Join us on this delicious journey – let's cook up confidence, together!

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